Great Falls tribune., 1887-02-12
SATURDAY. FEB. u, 1887.
The Estray Bill.

henhedys OIL providing Tor the posting
of estrays in this territory
All cattle, horses, hogs, or other domes
tic animals found running at large il this
territory unclaimed between the 1st day
Of November and the 1st day Of April in
each year, and also all such domestic ami
mails found within the lawful enclosure of
any freeholder within this territory, shall
be estrays within the meaning of this act
and treated as such.
When any estray shall be taken up, the
person SO taking up said animal shall with
in ten days go before the nearest and most
accessible justice Of the peace and shall
under oath describe said animal. giving
and approximate value.
Said justice Of the peace shall reduce
the statement of of the said person to writ
ing, which written statement shall be sign
ed by the said person, giving his postotfice
address, when said justice shall certify the
same for record to the clerk and recorder
of the county, and shall Immediately trans
NIT the same to such clerk and recorder,
and the said justice of the peace for his
services herein shall receive the sum Of
one dollar.
The county clerk and recorder shall re-
cord said statement in book which shall
be provided and kept for the purpose in
his office, which book shall be open for in
spection during all times when his office
is required by law to be kept open; and
lie shall also cause to be published in the
newspaper which has the contract to do
the legal printing of that county said state
ment for at least four successive weeks,
for which publication shall recaice not to
exceed two dollars and fifty cents for each
animal described, and Immediately after
such publication said clerk and recorder
Shall forward to the territorial auditor a
copy of such printed statement. And
said clerk and recorder shall be allowed
to charge and receive for his services, in
addition to the cost of publication as afore-
said, the sum of one dollar.
The person taken up such animal or es-
tray shall advance all the necessary sums
for the payments Of the fees and costs pro
vided for in this act
When anyone shall establish to such an
imal as may have been taken up as an es-
tray he shall reimburse the persons who
shall have taken up the same to the full
extent Of expenditures and expenditures
and expenses incurred together with rea-
sonable compensation for the keeping of
such animal. Such ownership shall be
establish by affidavit before a justice of
the peace, who shall record such affidavit
within his docket. II the parties cannot
agree as to the amount of such charges, the
same shall be assessed by such justice of
the peace, who shall receive for his ser
vices in the establishment of ownership
and assessment of charges the sum of one
dollar. Provided that no charge shall be
made for the keeping and care of the said
animal il the same has been used during
such time as it may have been kept by
such person.
When any animal shall be and remain
unclaimed after having been posted as
above provided for the period oftwo years,
the clerk and recorder shall issue notice
of such fact to a justice of the peace of
the township in which such estrav has
been taken up and posted; and the Justice
of the peace receiving the notice shall fix
the amount of damages due to the person
taking up and posting the estrays, giving
notice Of such intention to said persons:
and the justice of the peace shall direct
constable of the township to sell such es-
trays at public auction to the highest bid
der. From the proceeds of such sale the
constable shall receive ten per cent for his
services, the justice who directed the sale
shall receive fee of one dollar, the clerk
and recorder shall receive fee of twenty
five cents, and the party taking up and
posting said estray shall receive the fees
originally paid by him and the damages
fixed by the justice Of the peace. If any
money remains after the payment of the
costs and damages, it shall be turned into
the general fund of the county in